City: Waste Management’s service stinks
City council puts off routine rate hike due to lack of service by Waste Management
An otherwise routine approval for a modest rate increase before the Woodland City Council by Waste Management was continued to early January, but not before more than a little trash talk.
Council members weren’t shy in voicing their objections to what they and residents feel has been delayed trash and organic waste pickup along with street sweeping.
Meeting via Zoom, the council directed its frustration to Kayla Rodriguez, who was representing Waste Management, but were clear they weren’t angry at her as much as they were at managers for the nationwide, multi- billion dollar company.
Like many fi rms, Waste Management in Woodland has been hit by the coronavirus pandemic with workers getting sick and having to quarantine. That has led to fewer workers who pick up refuse and recyclables and tree trimmings which in turn has created long delays. Since about midyear, some weekly services have dropped to every other week.
The actual proposal before the council was to approve a rate hike based on the consumer price index, which is capped at 5%. This year, the rate would be about .56 cents a month for the average residence. Additionally, the city also approves any increase in landfill “tipping fees,” which this year would go from $ 14 to $ 42 a load.
New councilwoman Victoria Fernandez told Rodriguez that despite the modest rate hike for residents it was still too much, considering the number of people who have lost their jobs or have been furloughed due to the pandemic.
“On behalf of the residents, you should look at 2020 as an exceptional year with exceptional circumstances,” Fernandez said. “From your report, you’ve decreased your service by 50 percent. And on behalf of the citizens who may feel that their services have decreased, you should examine the increase. Is there a way to wait for 2021 or 2022, so we’re not adding another piece of frustration?”
Fernandez was endorsed by Mayor Rich Lansburgh, who said the operating profits being predicted for the year by Waste Management were $ 4.56 billion or more.
“I don’t think they need it,” he said. “They can bypass it a year. Our restaurants are suffering to keep their doors open. I understand ( we have a contract) but our citizens
deserve good what they pay.”
Rodriguez apologized to the council for the service problems but said it has gotten better, although because staffing levels have dropped by half it’s meant, for example, picking up green waste once every other week instead of once a week.
She also said the company was now doing “outdials” to reach residents by phone who had complaints, and added that in the last two weeks “we didn’t have any service delays or carryovers.” She also noted the level of complaints had diminished.
But Councilman Tom Stallard didn’t buy that argument, saying that people were calling members of the council as well as City Hall to voice their dissatisfaction.
“I don’t have a problem with the increase. Fiftysix cents is reasonable,” he said. “The biggest issue for me was the lack of communication. You’re a very big company and it surprises me that something wasn’t done.
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I would encourage you to be more communicative.”
In fact, it was only the first part of December that Waste Management publicly announced it was instituting an alternate week brush street pile pickup and street cleaning to allow its drivers to focus on weekly trash, recycling and organics collection. The company encouraged people to use the toter used for organic waste to dispose of yard waste, even though this time of year there are usually more leaves and other detritus than can be accommodated in the standard- sized toter.
Yet, the delays had been underway for months, a fact that didn’t escape Stallard and the other council members.
Stallard agreed with others who thought people should be credited for the reduced service and Rodriguez said the company was considering “additional service pickups in February or March.”
“But Kayla,” Stallard shot back, “there are no leaves in
February or March. … I wonder what the ‘ additional service’ would be because you’re picking up our trash now. I want your company to get on with it and provide better communication and be more creative.”
Stallard also bemoaned what he called the “diminution” of local management because the local manager wasn’t present to advocate for the local operation. He said efficient services was disappearing and that the toters were deteriorating from what he was seeing his neighborhood.
“It shows a lack of care,” he told Rodriguez about the poor service. “Next time bring the manager. This shouldn’t be dumped on your shoulders.”
Councilwoman Mayra Vega also said the lack of communication was “disappointing” and contributed to “a significant loss of trust.”
“That said, I would anticipate there would be some engagement from headquarters,” she continued. “I’ve spoken to many residents
who are very dissatisfied. This should be a huge sore spot.
“You’ve mentioned that there has been a decrease in complaints,” Vega said address Rodriguez. “I would be interested in how many complaints you have had coming in and how long it takes to resolve them.”
For his part, Councilman Angel Barajas — who was attending his last meeting before moving on to serve as the 5th District Yolo County supervisor — said the problem was with management. “This isn’t an employee problem.
“You’re a billion- dollar company,” he told Rodriguez. “It shouldn’t be on the backs of workers. This is a management issue. Please convey this to your superiors.”
With that, Stallard followed up on a recommendation by Barajas to table any action until January. The motion passed unanimously.